Automotive signal



Jan. 16, 1940. v. w. SCHULTZ 2,187,060

AUTOMOTIVE SIGNAL Filed May 27; 1 938 wsuzn'r/a/v F1 f 42 4" lq l7 v 9 If 3) ,6 0 a I IZ m suznr/m/ 30 W J l i/ /yzo I /s M y/ g w ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,187,060 AUTOMOTIVE SIGNAL Vinton W. Schultz, Chicago, Ill., assignor of onehalf to E. H. Anderson, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 27, 1938, Serial No. 210,342

3 Claims. (Cl. 200-6) .My invention relates to a signal switch device 29 has a pair of oppositely disposed flanges (H to indicate which way an automobile or other adapted to fit within aperture 2i so that the structure will turn. bracket 22 holds member 28 from displacement Among the objects of my invention is to create in the combination. a signal switch device in which the signal is The end It of head I5 is formed to normally 4 actuated only when the user is actually operating rest within middle portion 29 of movable memthe device and which will immediately and autober 28. In this position neither of the ends 30 matically cease to signal upon the user taking his touch spaced contact members 20. hand off the device, and such other objects, ad- Bolt 23 or other suitable means serves the g vantages and capabilities as will later more fully double function of attaching the bracket 22 to appear and which are inherently possessed by my the transverse member i8, and of acting as an invention. electrical contact member. A connection leads hil Ihave shown in t agcompany drawing from said bolt 23 through a fuse block to the a preferred embodiment of my invention yet I ungrounded terminal of an electric battery, thus wish it understood that the same is susceptible of making he bolt 23 alive terminal. A connection is modification and change without departing from leads from one of the contact members 2!! to an the spirit of my invention. electric lighting bulb behind a signal indicating Referring to the drawing Figs. 1 and 3 are one of a right or left hand turn. Another conplan views of different embodiments of the switch necti'on leads from the other of the contact memmechanism of my automotive signal and Figs. bers 20 to an electric lighting bulb behind another Y 2 and 4 are side views thereof respectively. signal indicating the other of a right or left hand The preferred embodiment selected to illustrate turn. my invention comprisesa metal rod in which may In use when the operator desires to indicate have at its upper enda grip means such as aknob, that he is going to make a right or left hand ball or handle H preferably adjacent the steer turn he moves the rod H) in the same direction ing wheel of the automobile. Said rod H] exthat he moves the steering wheel for such a turn. tends inwardly and adjacent its lower end passes Movement of the rod in causes blunt end Hi to through an opening H. in an end wall I3 of body slide on one of the outer surfaces or arms 40 of member M. Attached to the inner end of rod the movable M shaped member 28 causing said i0 is a head l5 tapering to an end !6. A resilient member 28 to rock or pivot on bracket 22 so that 30 member I! is coiled around that portion of the one of the ends 3t tounches one of the spaced rod Ill between the head l5 and the end wall. 43. contact members 26. This completes an elec- With opposite ends of said resilient member I! tric circuit and lights the bulb behind the signal contacting the inner side of end wall 3 and desired by the operator. head I5. Immediately upon release of pressure by the A transverse member l8 of non-conductor maoperator on rod ill resilient member 17 exerts terial extends across said body member 14 and is pressure on the end i6 causing the end IE to slide attached to opposite side Walls l9. A pair of in the opposite direction on arm down to midspaced metal contact members 20 extend through dle portion 29 and pivot M shaped member 28 said transverse member 18 and are positioned back to normal position. This removes the end 40 thereto by nuts 2! or rivets or other suitable 30 from contact with contact member 20 and means so that each contact member 2!! is adjacent breaks the electric circuit so as to turn off at one of the oppositely disposed side walls IQ of the once the lighted signal. body member Hi. My movable member 28 need not necessarily A metal bracket 22 is centrally attached to said be M or w shaped as shown in my preferred em- 4,5

transverse member l8 preferably by means of a 'bodiment. I may construct my member 28 as metal bolt 23 or other suitable means extending substantially V shaped, thus eliminating the ends through said transverse member and a nut 24 30 previously shown in the M shaped form. When or other suitable means. Said bracket 22 has a the V shaped type is used the spaced contact pair of side walls 25 and a pair of end portions members 20 will be longer so that when the V 26 having apertures 21. Ametal movable memshaped member is rocked the upper ends 4| ber 23 is provided which may in one form be thereof will contact the end member 26 desired.

substantially M shaped with its middle portion With either the M or V shaped movable mem- 29 blunt or slightly curved and the ends 33 shorter ber 28 or any modification thereof I may prothan the middle portion 29. The middle portion vide that the side Walls H! of the body member l4 have metal contact portions or conductors 42 leading to the spaced contact members 20. 'Insulation 43 will of course separate the sidewalls l9 from the conductors 42 if a metal body member is used. When the movable member is rocked its ends or upper portions will touch one of contact portions 42 to complete the electric circuit.

The body member M at its inner end 48 is rounded to fit around the steering column of an automobile or other structure, preferably directly under the steering wheel. The body mem.- ber has outturned portions 44 or other suitable portions adjacent its inner end to receive attachment means to secure the same to the automobile or other structure.

The side walls of bracket 22 act as stop memmovable member 28.

With either the M or V shaped movable member 28, I may eliminate the side walls 25 of bracket 22. In this construction my head I5 must be on the same angle as the arms 40 of movable member 28, to aid in the normal centering of end I6 within middle portion 29 of movable member 28 when manual pressure is released on rod H].

The head l5 may be of any desired shape, and its end It may be blunt as shown in one form or fiat as shown in another embodiment or any other desired contour.

If the body member M is constructed of metal then I employ a head l5 of non-conductor material to insulate rod ill from movable member 28.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A switch comprising a body member, a nonconductor member attached'to said body member, a pair of spaced electrical contact members and a live terminal attached to said non-conductor member, a movable member pivotally attached to said non-conductor member, a manual- 1y operable rod extending through a wall of said electrical contact members, said head adapted to slide on said movable member in either direction upon manual pressure being applied to the rod so that said movable member is pivoted by the head until one of the ends contacts one of the electrical contact members to complete an electrical circuit, said spring upon release of manual pressure on the rod adapted to force the head of the rod back to normal position on positioned on said rod between said wall and said head to normally position said head in the middle portion of said M shaped member, the middle portion of said M shaped member contacting said live terminal at all times, the ends of said M shaped member being shortened so that when said M shaped member is in normal position the ends are adjacent but do not touch said spaced electrical contact members, said head adapted to slide on said M shaped member in either direction upon manual pressure being applied to the 7 rod so that said M shaped member is pivoted by and a live terminal attached to said non-conductor member, a substantially V shaped member pivotally attached to said non-conductor member, a manually operable rod extending through a wall of said body member and having a rounded head tapering to a smaller rounded blunt end, a spring positioned on said rod between said wall and said head to normally position said head in the middle portion of said V shaped member, the middle portion of said V shaped member contacting said live terminal at all times, the ends of said v shaped member when said V shaped member is in normal position are adjacent but do not touch said spaced electrical contact members,'the rounded blunt end of said head slidable on said V shaped member in either direction upon manual pressure being applied to the rod so that said V shaped member is pivoted by the head until one of the ends contacts one of the electrical contact members to complete an electrical circuit, said spring upon release of manual. pressure on the rod cooperating with the rounded end of the head to slide the head back to normal position on the middle portion of said V shaped member and immediately break the electrical circuit.

- VINTON W. SCHULTZ. 

